How to Clean Hiking Boots

Hiking boots are one of the most important outdoor gear. A pair of boots that do not fit well and have hidden dangers is like a time bomb that can explode at any time.

Imagine hiking for more than three days, and suddenly the sole of the boot is damaged or falls off. What should you do?

Regular maintenance of hiking boots is necessary to maintain its performance and extend its service life.

It is important to clean hiking boots regularly, but it does not mean that you have to deep clean them after every hike. This mistake is very common among girls who love cleanliness, but doing so will accelerate the aging of the upper.

The best general frequency is to clean the shoes every three or four times. But if it is a long-distance hike or a daily hard and muddy route, wash it when it is time.

Benefits to keep hiking boots clean

Maintain the grip of the sole. Before each hike, it is necessary to keep the outsole clean and tidy. It is necessary to remove the dirt in the gaps of the sole texture to maintain the good grip of the sole. Avoid falling on slippery roads.
Prevent leather cracking, which is especially important for all-leather hiking boots. Keeping the leather fully moist can effectively extend the life of the leather and prevent cracking. If wet mud is left on the leather and allowed to dry, the drying process will cause the leather to crack, and then the leather surface will be damaged and the shoes will be scrapped.
Maintain waterproof performance. After each hike, dust and sand will enter the shoe compartment from the gaps and seams of the upper. Long-term accumulation will damage the waterproof membrane and cause the waterproof performance to decrease.
Have a good appearance. Although a pair of weathered shoes looks very tasteful, you don’t really want to smell very tasteful.

How to clean hiking boots of different materials

Hiking boots are made of different materials in different parts, and you need to pay attention to the method when cleaning.

Leather
Although leather fabrics are gradually replaced by artificial synthetic fabrics, they still have a place in heavy hiking boots. Leather has full grain, half grain, suede, nubuck, etc. Leather has excellent properties of durability and natural waterproofness.

Waterproof Membrane
Modern hiking boots are increasingly using membranes to achieve waterproof performance. Gore-Tex and eVent waterproof membranes are not as fragile as everyone imagines.

Crafting Materials
The inner boot material often uses skin-friendly crafting materials to keep warm and cushion the shock, but cleaning this kind of fabric is a bit tricky and easy to wear and pilling.

Therefore, a good pair of socks is very important, which absorbs sweat, keeps warm and prevents displacement and friction. Only after a lot of sweating, when the lining has a noticeable odor, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

Sole
The sole is generally made of synthetic rubber and is relatively easy to clean.

Tools required

1. A basin or bucket that can fully accommodate a boot.

2. Neutral detergent or soap for washing leather goods.

3. A soft brush, not too hard, otherwise it will scratch the leather surface and lining.

4. A screwdriver to scrape mud and dirt from the sole.

5. A piece of rag.

Cleaning steps

Beat the two shoes against each other or slap them on the ground. First, remove the large particles of mud, stones, dust, etc. Then wipe the upper and sole with a rag to remove the dirt that has not fallen off.

Clean the sole: Turn the shoes upside down and take some time to clean the mud and dust on the sole. At this time, you will use a screwdriver to scrape off the stubborn stones stuck in the texture.
Prepare the solution to clean the boots: Never apply soap and detergent directly to the upper, which will damage the fabric or cause the leather to deteriorate. Mix the cleaning solution and foam it. The concentration of the detergent does not need to be too high. This can both clean and not damage the upper. Soak the entire shoe and then pick it up, and use a soft brush to clean each part. Don’t brush the shoes too hard, and the shoes do not need to be over-soaked.
Dry and Care: After cleaning, place it in a dry, cool and ventilated place to dry. Do not expose it to the sun or place it in an overheated place, which will cause the leather to crack. Do not place it in a dark and humid place, otherwise it will mold. You can stuff dry newspapers or toilet paper into the shoes to absorb moisture and ensure that the fabric is dry.

Remember not to put the shoes in a spin dryer or blow dry them with a hair dryer.

After the leather is dried in the shade, use leather care agent to maintain the leather surface. Leather care agent is essentially a moisturizer to prevent the leather from over-drying and cracking.

(*Tips: Use a dry and clean rag to apply an appropriate amount of care agent until the leather absorbs it. Do not apply too much, which will cause the leather to discolor.)

Common Mistakes

After returning home from a long trip or hike, you feel exhausted and just want to lie down and rest. But it is easy to make a mistake to clean your hiking boots. Some stains can be removed when cleaned in time, but after a while, they will be soaked in the fabric and difficult to remove.

Use strong detergents

Mild soapy water and neutral detergents are enough. Strong detergents will only damage the upper and reduce the service life. When encountering stubborn stains, use a soft brush more often. It is worth spending more time.

Washing machine

Lazy people always think of this method. This can be done for sports shoes and canvas shoes, but not for hiking shoes. Damage to the leather surface and separation of the waterproof membrane are the consequences.

Heating

In winter, if you are worried that the shoes will not dry fast enough, use a hair dryer or heater to dry the shoes. This will only accelerate the cracking of the leather and cause the fabric to age faster.

If you want to speed up the drying speed, you can place it in a place with fast air flow or under a fan.

In short, it is important to maintain the boots regularly. Every time you come back, at least remove the stains on the soles and the mud on the uppers. You take care of your equipment, and the equipment protect you.